Wild dog management: Doggers to take on deer, pigs and goats

Victorian wild-dog controllers could be about to have an even bigger workload with a big name change for the state’s management program.

Victoria’s already stretched doggers could be saddled with extra responsibilities of controlling feral pigs, goats and deer numbers.

The state government is rebadging the wild dogs program’s name to the vertebrate species management program to “more accurately reflect the broader scope” of threats faced by farmers.

But doggers already have hectic workloads, with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate’s own wild dog activity data revealing the number of killed and maimed incident reports increasing from 284 in 2022-23 to 370 in 2023-24.

An even higher increase has taken place with the number of seen, heard and other incident reports.

They’ve jumped from 347 in 2022-23 to 532 in 2023-24 - an increase of 53 per cent.

Victoria’s wild dog program is being renamed the vertebrate species management program.

Myrtleford’s Greg Ivone, who worked in wild dog management for 32 years, said the wild dog program was already a “tough gig” following a move to 24-hour trap checks without the extra workload of controlling wild pigs, foxes, goats and deer numbers.

“They get stones thrown at them from everyone and are the meat in the sandwich,” he said.

“If a farmer is losing stock, they are stressed enough.

“When a farmer’s problem is solved, these guys just move onto another one.

“Without extra resources and funding it’s got to erode the wild dog program.

“They do a terrific job, but it’s a stressful job as it is and they are already pushed to the max.”

Gippsland East MP Tim Bull said based on the increased dingo activity the government shouldn’t be placing extra workload on those on the frontline of wild dog controls.

“My grave concern is that after they announced the wild dog program will continue relatively unchanged late last year, they then make a significant change that is likely to greatly reduce control efforts,” he said.

“This is just the result of cutbacks from a government that can’t manage money which yet again impacts rural Victorians.”

The Weekly Times has contacted the Victorian government for comment.

Originally published as Wild dog management: Doggers to take on deer, pigs and goats